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YOUTH DAY (YOUTH AND HEALTH)

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, October 25, 2009

W. Patrick Alston, Sr., Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

Too many African American youth are not healthy. From obesity to diabetes, stress, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, tobacco use, alcohol, and drug use, our children are besieged by unhealthy environments. The Church must step forward to help our youth. The following are a few ideas that the Music and Arts Ministry can help lead.

• Hold a youth health fair. Your local health centers would be happy to work with you to help you plan a health fair. Organize a committee of youth and adults to make this happen. Plan big. Ensure that all of the youth at your church attend. Advertise well to ensure great attendance from the community. Hold the fair at various locations; not all youth will be interested in entering a church building. Offer prizes. Make all testing confidential and celebrate your accomplishment. Also, make use of the Web, text messages, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

• Hold workshops on dieting and exercise. Invite medical professionals and licensed dieticians to provide your youth information on how to lose weight and stay fit. Again, do not forget to invite youth from your community and advertise well. Radio stations and newspapers are willing to give free advertising for this type of community event. Also, make use of the Web, text messages, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

• Do quarterly messages on health for your youth. These messages can come in the form of sermons, Bible studies, inserts in the morning bulletin, church outings, or Youth department messages. Do not miss a quarter. In fact, lay out your plan for all of the next year. Plan a health event for each quarter. Be creative; do not plan the same type of event more than twice in a year.

• Name health czars. Each adult department in your church can appoint a health czar. The role of the czar is to provide adults in each department with tips for healthy living. This should include, but not be limited to a list of all basic health providers in your community; lists of healthy meals that can be prepared; exercise tips, etc. Then, once each quarter, all health czars in your church should meet collectively to ensure that the entire congregation is receiving information and to plan one large effort that involves the entire church. During this meeting also appoint a person who will be responsible (one per month) for providing healthy living tips for youth and a separate listing of healthy living tips for adults for each Sunday. This information should be prepared for placement in the Church bulletin/order of worship and on church screens.

• For additional ideas see the Cultural Resource unit for today.

1. Litany

	Health
Youth Reader:	We are your people. You have created us as marvelous and wonderful beings. For this we are grateful. For this we offer you the highest praise.
The People:	In gratitude to you, our Creator, we shall not mistreat our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit. Forgive us the past sins that we have done to our bodies. Give us the courage and the willpower to do no further harm.
Youth Reader:	Because you have given us strong and creative minds, we shall develop ways to eat better, exercise, de-stress, and bless our planet. We can do this because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
The People:	Lord, forgive each adult who has not lived in ways to serve as strong role models for our children. Strengthen us to begin this day determined to help each child and each youth be healthy physically and spiritually.
Youth Reader:	We pray for parents who provide nourishment. Give them the wisdom, and the knowledge, and the courage to live healthy lives and serve as role models for their children. Youth need healthy role models.
The People:	We will not contribute to an unhealthy generation. Through our purchases, where we eat, and by what we cook, we will not contribute to an unhealthy generation. We will demand healthy environments from our church, our schools, our communities, and our homes.
Youth Reader:	God, help us to desire the best for ourselves. Lead us away from the temptations that can only injure us. Today, we make a life-long affirmation to avoid drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and all substances that will harm our health.
The People:	Today, we as a church affirm that we will be a sanctuary to help children avoid drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and all substances that will harm their health. We will make this a priority in our church budget and in church activities.
Youth Reader:	Today, we make a life-long affirmation to put our health first in relationships. We will consider our health and avoid sexual encounters that lead to HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy and harm us spiritually.
The People:	Today, we make a life-long affirmation to teach all youth we encounter to put their health first in relationships. As adults, we pledge to teach youth healthy behaviors and to place before them those who can teach them healthy behaviors.
ALL:	This is a healthy church. Today, we affirm that we are committed to the health of our youth. We will not be distracted from this urgent goal. God give us the courage, the wisdom and the resources to do what needs to be done, starting today. Please hear our prayer. Amen.

2. Hymns or Congregational Songs
(a) God Leads Us Along. By G. A. Young. Tune, God Lead Us

(b) Praise Him! Praise Him! By Fanny J. Crosby. Tune, (Joyful Song) Chester G. Allen

(c) Yield Not to Temptation. By Horatio R. Palmer. Tune, (Yield Not) Horatio Palmer

(d) He Knows Just What I Need. By Robert Fryson. Tune, He Knows

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) King Jesus Is a Listening. Traditional. Arr. by Mark Hubbard

(b) This Little Light of Mine. Traditional. Arr. by Moses Hogan

(c) O Lord Please Hear My Prayer. Traditional. Arr. by Moses Hogan

(d) Woke Up This Morning with My Mind. Traditional. Arr. by Leonard Scott

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, and Praise Teams
(a) Praise to the Rock. By J. J. Hairston

(b) Here Is Our Praise. By Freda Battle

(c) Temple of the Holy Ghost. By Neal Jones

(d) This Is the Day. Arr. by Fred Hammond

5. Liturgical Dance Music
More Than Anything. By Lamar Campbell

6. Anthems
(a) I Shall Praise. By J. J. Hairston

(b) Great Is the Lord. By J. White. Arr. by J. J. Hairston

(c) I’m His Child. By Moses Hogan

(d) O Give Thanks. By Craig Hayes

7. Modern Songs
(a) Safety. By Oscar Williams

(b) Cover Me. By Smokie Norful, Fred Hammond, and J. Moss

(c) Like a Shepherd. By Don Meon and Deborah Simpson

(d) No Defeat. By David Frazier

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) I’ll Trust You. By Tanabe Gatlin

(b) Don’t Give Up. By James Hall

(c) No Joy, No Strength. By Melvin Crispell

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Use Me. By Dewitt Jones and Kim Jones

(b) It Is to You. By Byron Cage

(c) Standing in the Need of Prayer. By John P. Kee

10. Sermonic Selections
(a) Souled Out. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair

(b) Love You So. By Darius Brooks

(c) Who Else But God. By Tye Tribbett

(d) We Serve a Mighty God. By Keith Pringle

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Give Me a Clean Heart. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux

(b) Completely Yes. By Sandra Crouch

12. Benediction Songs
(a) How Great Is Our God. By Chris Tomlin. Arr. By Jonathan Nelson

(b) Press Toward the Mark. By Norman Hutchins

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Litany – “Health.” This litany was prepared by The African American Lectionary Liturgical team.

2. Hymns or Congregational Songs
(a) God Leads Us Along. By G. A Young. Tune, God Lead Us
Location:
(b) Praise Him! Praise Him! By Fanny J Crosby. Tune, (Joyful Song) Chester G. Allen
Location:
(c) Yield Not to Temptation. By Horatio R. Palmer. Tune, (Yield Not) Horatio Palmer
Location:
(d) He Knows Just What I Need. By Robert Fryson. Tune, He Knows
Location:

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) King Jesus Is a Listening. Traditional. Arr. By Mark Hubbard
Location:

(b) This Little Light of Mine. Traditional. Arr. By Moses Hogan
Location:

(c) O Lord Please Hear My Prayer. Traditional. Arr. By Moses Hogan
Location:

(d) Woke Up This Morning with My Mind. Traditional. Arr. By Leonard Scott
Location:

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, and Praise Teams
(a) Praise to the Rock. By J. J. Hairston
Location:

(b) Here Is Our Praise. By Freda Battle
Location:

(c) Temple of the Holy Ghost. By Neal Jones
Location:

(d) This is the Day. Arr. By Fred Hammond
Location:

5. Liturgical Dance Music
More Than Anything. By Lamar Campbell
Location:

6. Anthems
(a) I Shall Praise. By J. J. Hairston
Location:

(b) Great Is the Lord. By J. White. Arr. By J. J. Hairston. This song is a part of the worship medley, which is track #13.
Location:

(c) I’m His Child. By Moses Hogan
Location:

(d) O Give Thanks. By Craig Hayes
Location:

7. Modern Songs
(a) Safety. By Oscar Williams
Location:

(b) Cover Me. By Smokie Norful, Fred Hammond, and J. Moss
Location:

(c) Like a Shepherd. By Don Moen and Deborah Simpson
Location:

(d) No Defeat. By David Frazier
Location:

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) I’ll Trust You. By Tanabe Gatlin
Location:

(b) Don’t Give Up. By James Hall
Location:

(c) No Joy, No Strength. By Melvin Crispell
Location:

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Use Me. By Dewitt Jones and Kim Jones
Location:

(b) It Is to You. By Byron Cage
Location:

(c) Standing in the Need of Prayer. Traditional. Arr. By John P Kee
Location:

10. Sermonic Selections
(a) Souled Out. By Estee Bullock and Nate McNair
Location:

(b) Love You So. By Darius Brooks
Location:

(c) Who Else But God. By Tye Tribbett
Location:

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) Give Me a Clean Heart. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux
Location:
(b) Completely Yes. By Sandra Crouch
Location:

12. Benediction Songs
(a) How Great Is Our God. By Chris Tomlin. Arr. By Jonathan Nelson
Location:

(b) Press Toward The Mark. By Norman Hutchins
Location:

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